Run: 2026-02-20-01KHYB4VGG0W4YH8XQNXAB18DB

## Voice Sheet: Scene - Alborn Cafe **Setting:** A small, brightly lit cafe in Alborn, MN. Mid-morning. The aroma of coffee and apple pie hangs in the air. **Characters:** Selvi, Hunter --- **Selvi:** (Eyes fixed on the LCD screen of her camera, scrolling through photos. She sighs, a tremor in it. Speaks rapidly, her voice laced with fear. – *Hindi Translation: "It was awful. Truly awful. Old Man Hemlock...vanished. Just *gone* from his orchard. Everyone is so scared now."* ) “यह भयानक था। सच में भयानक। हेमलोक दादाजी... गायब हो गए। बस *गायब* हो गए अपने बाग से। अब सब बहुत डरे हुए हैं।" **Hunter:** (Approaches her table, looking a little weary. He gestures to the empty chair opposite her.) Mind if I join you? I'm Detective Hunter. **Selvi:** (Looks up, startled. Her eyes widen, reflecting her distress. She shakes her head slightly, still gripping her camera tightly. She repeats, much quieter but with increasing urgency – *Hindi Translation: "He was there yesterday afternoon, picking apples for the festival. Then… nothing. No one saw a thing."* ) "कल दोपहर वह वहां थे, उत्सव के लिए सेब तोड़ रहे थे। फिर… कुछ नहीं। किसी ने कुछ नहीं देखा।" **Hunter:** (Frowning. He's clearly lost.) Uh… I’m sorry. I don’t… I don’t understand a word you’re saying. Are you alright? You seem upset. **Selvi:** (Frustration beginning to show. She gestures wildly at her camera, then towards the north side of town. – *Hindi Translation: "Hemlock’s orchard! He disappeared from there! Everyone says it’s the same… the others… they vanished from near the woods."* ) “हेमलोक का बाग़! वह वहीं से गायब हो गए! सब कहते हैं कि ऐसा ही... बाकियों के साथ भी... वे जंगल के पास से गायब हो गए।” **Hunter:** (Runs a hand through his hair. He pulls out a small notepad and pen.) Orchard… woods… Okay. Look, I’m investigating the disappearances. Old Man Hemlock, right? I was hoping someone might have *seen* something. I’m trying to piece things together. Do you… speak English? **Selvi:** (Shakes her head vehemently. – *Hindi Translation: "No! I just arrived. I don't know any English! I’m here to study… photography…"* ) "नहीं! मैं अभी-अभी आई हूँ। मुझे कोई अंग्रेजी नहीं आती! मैं यहाँ पढ़ाई करने आई हूँ… फ़ोटोग्राफ़ी…" **Hunter:** (Sighs. This is getting him nowhere. He points to himself.) Hunter. Detective Hunter. (Then points to her.) Your… name? **Selvi:** (Hesitantly, points to her chest.) Selvi. (She attempts a small, shaky smile.) Selvi. **Hunter:** Selvi. Right. (He scribbles it down.) It’s a beautiful town, Alborn. Shame about all this. (He looks around the cafe, clearly thinking.) Someone has to know something. (Hunter's cell phone *rings* – a harsh, official tone. He glances at the caller ID and answers.) **Hunter:** Hunter here… Yeah? … A new one? … Where? … Alright, I’m on my way. (He hangs up, looking grim.) Damn it. **Hunter:** (To Selvi, with a resigned look.) Look, I’m sorry. I’ve gotta go. Another possible lead. (He stands up.) Maybe we can… figure something out later. (He pauses, realizing the futility of the statement.) Stay safe. **Selvi:** (Looks up at him, a flicker of confusion and continued fear in her eyes. – *Hindi Translation: "Safe? How can anyone be safe when people just disappear?"* ) “सुरक्षित? जब लोग बस गायब हो जाते हैं, तो कोई कैसे सुरक्षित रह सकता है?” --- **Notes for Actors:** * **Selvi:** Throughout the scene, Selvi should demonstrate mounting anxiety. Her Hindi should be spoken quickly and with genuine emotion. Her camera is a comfort, but also a distraction from the unsettling events. Focus on conveying her fear *through* her delivery, even if the meaning isn't understood by Hunter. * **Hunter:** Hunter should project a sense of frustrated competence. He struggles to maintain his no-nonsense demeanor in the face of the language barrier. His frustration grows with each line of unintelligible Hindi. His tone should be polite, but brisk.